Improvement in bill-files



rrEE STATES PATENT QFFICE.

WILLIAM R. GLOUGH, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

IMPROVEMENT IN BILL-FILES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 159,796, dated February 16, 1875; application filed January 23, 1875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM R. CLOUGH, of Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bill-Files, of which the following is a specification:

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in that class of paperiiles in which the papers, bills, Snc., are clamped -to and held upon a strip or sheet of wood or other material by means of wire clamps secured to the sheet or strip at each side, and operated by means of spiral or other springs; and it consists in providing the board with two clamps attached to the same near each end, one otl the clamps being provided with springs, as usual, and the other simply pivoted to the sides of the strip or sheet. The latter clamp is provided with shoulders on both sides, immediately opposite each other, formed at any point between the top of the clamp and the strip or sheet, to which it is attached by bending the wire. The Iirstmentioned or spring clamp rests upon the shoulders thus formed, falling over the upper part of the other clamp. The shouldered clamp constitutes a lever, by means of which the spring-clamp is raised and supported, which, when in nearly a vertical position, has the ctt'ect ot' rendering both wires unitedly selfsupporting. When the shouldered clamp is lowered the spring-clamp follows it, giving to it a spring-power similar to its own, by means of which a package may be secured beneath them.

In the drawing, Figure l represents a perspective view of my improved paperfle. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same; and Fig. 3 is a detached view of one side of the clamping-wires, showing the shoulder which forms the supporting and locking device.

A represents a strip or sheet of wood, metal, or other material, of suitable length and width; and B B', the clamps. These clamps are made of wire, bent as shown, and secured to the sheet A. The ends of the clamp B extend under the sheet or strip A, and terminate in spiral springs C C, set in recesses or slots D D, formed in the strip A. The ends of the clamp B are simply pivoted to the edges of the strip or sheet. sides of the clamp Bl directly opposite each other, and at any distance between the top of the clamp and the strip A. Said shoulders are formed by bending the wire outward and then downward before fastening the clamp to the sheet. The clamp B sets over the upper part of the clamps B above the shoulders b b, said portion being narrower than the lower portion or part between the shoulders, as will be perceived, the sides of said clamp B resting upon the shoulders in whatever position the clamp B may happen to be.

It will be readily seen that when the clamp B is elevated the'shoulders b b Will raise the sides of the clamp B, elevating said clamp until clamp B is in`nearly a vertical position, or the shoulders of which reach the corners of the clamp B, when the two clamps will become locked or supported, and will retain their position unt-il the clamp B' is let down.

My invention may be modified by providing both of the clamps with springs, and forming shoulders on the top of one of said clamps, by means of which the two may be locked when elevated.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The combination of a spring-clamp and a lever-clamp, having a shoulder-or shoulders, and made to pass between the arms of the spring clamp, and both constructed to be raised together and locked in an elevated position by the shoulder on the lever-clamp, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand.

W. R. CLOUGH.

Witnesses:

W. A. MYER, WM. PLUME.

Shoulders b b are formed on thev 

